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The Great German Energy Experiment

technology review Magazine - July/August Issue -- Along a rural road in the western German state of North Rhine–Westphalia lives a farmer named Norbert Leurs. An affable 36-year-old with callused hands, he has two young children and until recently pursued an unremarkable line of work: raising potatoes and pigs. But his newest businesses point to an extraordinary shift in the energy policies of Europe's largest economy. In 2003, a small wind company erected a 70-meter turbine, one of some 22,000 in hundreds of wind farms dotting the German countryside, on a piece of Leurs's potato patch. Leurs gets a 6 percent cut of the electricity sales, which comes to about $9,500 a year. He's considering adding two or three more turbines, each twice as tall as the first.

The profits from those turbines are modest next to what he stands to make on sol

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Submitted Jun 20, 2012 By: NHLiveFree

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doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,463 Points:841,760 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 10:58:16 AM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse "The 'Great' German Energy Experiment" "You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means." Fezzik
Metrolizer Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:2,015 Points:2,210,155 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 9:23:18 AM Ignore Metrolizer Report Abuse "The Energiewende is a turn into nowhere-land, because the green technologies are just not sufficient to provide a replacement for modern society’s energy needs," he says. "It is wrong to shut down the atomic power plants, because this is a cheap source of energy, and wind and solar power are by no means able to provide a replacement. They are much more expensive, and the energy that comes out is of inferior quality. Energy-intensive industries will move out, and the competitiveness of the German manufacturing sector will be reduced or wages will be depressed." -- Hans-Werner Sinn, president of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich Angela Merkel’s decision to shut down all of Germany’s nuclear plants may prove not to have even been good politics.
cmptrmush Champion Author Detroit Posts:3,625 Points:740,695 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 7:24:33 AM Ignore cmptrmush Report Abuse I am glad Mr. Norbert Leurs is making some extra money, but don't forget everyone needs to eat also. It makes sense to trade agricultural land for some extra profit, but don't forget to grow food otherwise we will have a much bigger problem to deal with.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,490 Points:750,440 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 5:32:58 AM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse Good for them.
StrayArc Rookie Author Virginia Posts:38 Points:14,105 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 4:20:22 AM Ignore StrayArc Report Abuse germans are great
slowpoke Veteran Author Virginia Posts:277 Points:101,880 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:59:47 AM Ignore slowpoke Report Abuse Thanks so much, NHLiveFree! Great article.
TRYWI All-Star Author Appleton Posts:898 Points:282,150 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:40:27 AM Ignore TRYWI Report Abuse Germany #1 in the world
suchont Veteran Author Los Angeles Posts:308 Points:166,715 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:14:02 AM Ignore suchont Report Abuse kudo to germany
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,956 Points:1,927,755 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 1:14:25 AM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse danreino, Agreed.Ich versteh.
kkimes Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,606 Points:1,508,105 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 1:03:03 AM Ignore kkimes Report Abuse Guaranteeing some profit would be ok, but demanding excessive high payments for renewable energy is not sustainable. It will come crashing down.
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,363 Points:1,542,680 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 1:00:41 AM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Es ist gut fur Deutschland und unsere freunden von Europa. Wir bist see wenn zie experimente workesh oder nicht.
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,774 Points:789,630 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:59:04 AM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse gas related???
yakstar Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,435 Points:482,570 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:55:36 AM Ignore yakstar Report Abuse danke...
AuburnTim Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,828 Points:1,559,190 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:55:14 AM Ignore AuburnTim Report Abuse Don't care
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,836 Points:1,432,700 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:53:57 AM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Are they kidding?See here...
DandyDapple All-Star Author North Dakota Posts:715 Points:312,920 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:53:54 AM Ignore DandyDapple Report Abuse Hmmmm
jl1rp Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,827 Points:360,180 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:51:39 AM Ignore jl1rp Report Abuse nice
Chem60 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,832 Points:815,000 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:51:19 AM Ignore Chem60 Report Abuse I think this is a great use for his land!
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,319 Points:1,645,830 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:50:10 AM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Good for him......
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,669 Points:2,362,895 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:50:02 AM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse Would like to see more wind and solar in the US and here in Florida.
bills299 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,376 Points:906,440 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:49:39 AM Ignore bills299 Report Abuse Sounds good!!
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,186 Points:1,933,405 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:48:32 AM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Governments can't spend their way to green. It's got to make a solid business plan to work.
graceman Champion Author Baltimore Posts:4,968 Points:1,158,725 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:47:47 AM Ignore graceman Report Abuse Great for him.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,334 Points:1,534,725 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:47:28 AM Ignore OGW Report Abuse It is highly posible that it will be a success but at what cost to individuals. Will the cost be too much for them to bear. Our government here pays way too much for solar and wind power but the reality is that price is guaranteed for 20 years so in the end we will be paying at least that high price for every kilowatt hour we use.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,483 Points:665,125 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:44:41 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Just cashing in on subsidies.
unipanini All-Star Author New York Posts:903 Points:264,575 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:39:58 AM Ignore unipanini Report Abuse Good luck.
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,547 Points:490,440 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:39:32 AM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse Propaganda!!!! Germany has already announcd that they can no longer afford the subsidies, and green programs are not producing enough energy to prevent brown outs this summer. In addition the have just declared the fossil fuel, natural gas, to be "Green"!!!!
cbuck80 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:1,597 Points:403,505 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:35:24 AM Ignore cbuck80 Report Abuse ok
CDMAuto Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,806 Points:756,780 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:35:19 AM Ignore CDMAuto Report Abuse Good job, Good luck....
gch42 Champion Author Georgia Posts:11,834 Points:2,077,245 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:33:04 AM Ignore gch42 Report Abuse ditto. nomad
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,117 Points:575,140 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:31:36 AM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse as long as he can still produce the same amount of crops ,i say go for it.then update your farm and your equipment.that way we all win.
LQQKGAS Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,673 Points:1,197,845 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:29:38 AM Ignore LQQKGAS Report Abuse Potatoes make Vodka, Vodka can be motor fuel!
BobD2009 Champion Author Long Island Posts:7,004 Points:1,242,710 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:28:59 AM Ignore BobD2009 Report Abuse Good deal for Norbert.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:9,557 Points:1,863,845 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:28:09 AM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse He saw an opportunity and took it
pumaMN Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,553 Points:338,515 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:27:32 AM Ignore pumaMN Report Abuse ok
mgune9 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:914 Points:200,395 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:25:19 AM Ignore mgune9 Report Abuse good for him
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,956 Points:1,184,935 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:20:45 AM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse good work!
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,022 Points:2,472,645 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:19:46 AM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Nice
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:8,313 Points:1,904,930 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:19:37 AM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse nice
METEOR49 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,182 Points:457,175 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:17:19 AM Ignore METEOR49 Report Abuse and the consumer takes another beating .
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,798 Points:2,375,975 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:17:08 AM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse Good luck to Norbert
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,495 Points:2,083,685 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:16:36 AM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse Hmmm pigs, I smell the bacon already...
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,635 Points:3,497,630 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:16:06 AM Ignore DEG Report Abuse I strongly believe that governments ought to get out of the subsidy business and let free market factors come into play to sort out the energy markets.
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,484 Points:1,713,785 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:15:42 AM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Germany innovative? Strange times we live in
12766 Champion Author New York Posts:2,453 Points:1,485,365 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:14:19 AM Ignore 12766 Report Abuse OK
chicoCA Champion Author California Posts:1,990 Points:1,776,480 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:11:30 AM Ignore chicoCA Report Abuse okay
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,803 Points:658,995 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:10:06 AM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse good job.
langolera Champion Author Akron Posts:1,771 Points:667,930 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:09:30 AM Ignore langolera Report Abuse ok
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,707 Points:540,970 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:09:12 AM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse And?
TheeRedRam Champion Author Hartford Posts:3,173 Points:675,335 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 12:08:56 AM Ignore TheeRedRam Report Abuse Zzzzz.....